VANCOUVER – Yes, it’s been a weird winter season here on the Wet Coast of Canada.

We’ve had snow when we didn’t expect it, and spring time weather when we really wanted it. Remember all those sunny days last month?

Nevertheless, there have been some scary moments, that have caused a few hearts to race, and experienced drivers to feel very humbled, and even more so, extremely embarrassed. And yes, I include myself in the embarrassed category.

We’ve all heard, and maybe even smiled at the term ‘Boys and their Toys.’ We drivers of Big Rigs are no exception to that concept. It snows. No problem. We’ll just motor right on through that white stuff. No sweat! What snow?

Well, I’m here to tell you that driving a big rig in the first snowfall of the year is much like taking one’s motorcycle out for the first run in the spring time. If you don’t switch your thinking into the seasonal demands, you are in for a shock, and a rude re-awakening.

Case in point: When it snows, a big rig driver needs to drive a little faster than normal when backing under a parked trailer or container. You see, backing up under a parked trailer involves lifting up the trailer nose as it slides onto the truck’s pivot point, known as the fifth wheel. That locks the trailer to the truck. Hook up the air lines, wind up the landing legs and you’re good to go.

As simple as that in the summer time weather, but not when there is snow on the ground. This is when trouble starts.

First thing is that snow slows down the entire process, because if there is snow on the ground, there is snow on the truck’s fifth wheel, and if there is snow on the fifth wheel, there is definitely snow in the locking jaws, and a solid connection will not happen.

Sure, it looks good, and the driver will think all is well, and when he starts to move forward, the trailer follows him, but come the first turn or even the second twist he makes, it’s goodbye trailer — it’s off the back of the truck in a blink of an eye, or faster than the driver can react to save it crashing to the ground.

Why you ask, didn’t it lock? The pin that sticks down from the trailer pushed a wad of snow into the locking assembly, preventing the locking mechanism from fully engaging. Very embarrassing, and there was a moment in November when a friend of mine felt so helpless as he watched a loaded container come right toward his cab, with no truck attached. The other truck and container had separated on a corner.

No contact was made, but a very elevated heart rate was achieved in my friend’s chest. The other driver was still apologizing for his mistake, days later.

Truth be told, many big rig drivers have been caught in very similar situations. Some will admit it, while others refuse to — and the latter are the ones I try to stay away from in the days of ice and snow.

Another “tool” we have with our power units, that comes in very handy in the snow is a switch in the cab that instantly locks the two rear ends together. That makes us an eight-wheel-drive power unit. Forward or reverse, it works. It‘s our last chance, or last trick to pull before we have to mutter in our beard about getting out and hanging the jewelry — those hated chains.

Yes. I was caught three times in November, stuck in the snow in a muddy pothole-filled empty container parking lot. All three times, the brain kicked in, after I had become stuck, and saved my sorry butt. Still, I found myself looking around to see if anyone else saw how dumb I was, once again.

We also fear black ice.

And we curse other drivers who insist on running right beside us down the road — be it a car, pickup, SUV or big rig — due to the spray from the salt and the ice and the sand. It plays havoc on all paint jobs, the chrome, the fuel tanks, and especially makes it very difficult to see through the windshield. The washer units are constantly on, and they really don’t work that well with that mixture being thrown into the air.

What is the solution to snow? I don’t honestly know, but I do try to think positive thoughts about fellow drivers, and try to remember that after today, I’m 24 hours closer to the spring time warm weather and no snow.

Hey, don’t knock it. The power of positive thoughts works just great for me.

I could fill a newspaper with stories about life on the road, but why not share yours with readers? Send them to Driving editor Andrew McCredie at amccredie@sunprovince.com